Conovium was a Roman auxiliary fort situated on the west bank of the River Conwy at modern Caerhun, established c. 77/78 CE during Agricola's campaigns to subdue the Ordovices and control north-west Wales. Roughly 2 hectares in size, the fort guarded the tidal limit and lowest practical crossing of the Conwy, with occupation continuing — with phases of rebuilding and reduction — into the fourth century, though garrison strength likely fluctuated significantly in the later period.
Source: Pleiades — A Community-Built Gazetteer and Graph of Ancient Places. View the Pleiades record →
It was a key node on the Roman road network of northern Wales, linking Segontium (Caernarfon) to Canovium's east and ultimately to Chester (Deva), and it controlled river access into the Conwy valley and Snowdonia's mineral resources. The site is named in the Antonine Itinerary (Iter XI), confirming its standing as a recognised station on the route between Segontium and Deva.
Excavations by P. K. Baillie Reynolds in 1926–29 revealed the defences, principia, granaries, and a bath-house outside the fort to the south-east; the bath-house is the most substantial visible remains today. Finds included tile stamps, pottery indicating long occupation, and evidence of timber-to-stone rebuilding, though no inscription has securely identified the garrison unit, which is generally presumed to
Conovium was a Roman auxiliary fort situated on the west bank of the River Conwy at modern Caerhun, established c. It is recorded in the Pleiades gazetteer of ancient places as a fort site from the Roman period in Britain.
Kanovium/Conovium is classified as a Roman fort — a military site in the Pleiades ancient world gazetteer. Roman Britain's archaeology encompasses thousands of sites ranging from legionary fortresses and marching camps to villas, temples and towns.
Several Roman sites lie within a short distance, including Great Orme Mines (12.7 km), Caer Llugwy (13.4 km), Varis (26 km). Aubrey Research maps over 2,200 Roman sites across Britain, drawn from the Pleiades ancient world gazetteer.
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